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A humorous take on Christmas food, perhaps a funny dish or decoration.

Mistletoe Mash-Up Meatballs (with Googly Eyes!)

These fun and festive Mistletoe Mash-Up Meatballs are a delightful appetizer or quirky side dish, perfect for holiday gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
Glaze
  • 1 jar cranberry sauce (12 oz) whole berry or jellied, your choice!
  • 1/4 cup orange marmalade
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Garnish
  • 12-15 edible googly eyes optional, but highly recommended for fun!

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • large skillet
  • small saucepan
  • whisk

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, beaten egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  2. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. They don't need to be perfectly round.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides, working in batches if necessary.
  4. In a separate small saucepan, whisk together the cranberry sauce, orange marmalade, and Dijon mustard. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth and gently bubbling.
Cooking
  1. Drain any excess grease from the skillet with the browned meatballs. Pour the cranberry-orange glaze over the meatballs.
  2. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly. Stir occasionally to coat all meatballs.
Serving
  1. Just before serving, and while the meatballs are still warm, carefully place one edible googly eye on top of each meatball.
  2. Transfer the Mistletoe Mash-Up Meatballs to a festive serving platter and serve as an appetizer or side dish.

Notes

Overmixing the meatball mixture can lead to tough meatballs. For a festive touch, use whole berry cranberry sauce. Ensure meatballs are warm but not scalding when adding googly eyes to prevent melting. These meatballs are great for holiday parties!